Page 31 of Control Freak

I pulled up some briefs and stepped into my jeans. “Are you asking if we’re fucking?”

“Oh my god, don’t listen to me. That’s none of my business. It’s just, you had no issue with Holden walking in while you’re naked, and so, um…I’ll shut up now.”

I laughed. “Emory, you can turn around. This conversation would be less awkward if I could see your face.”

“For you, maybe,” he mumbled, but he obediently turned, peeking through two fingers to confirm I’d put on pants.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” I said. “I lost my modesty when I lived with four roommates in my college days. We didn’t have space for privacy, you know?”

That and we were all camboys, but Emory didn’t need to know that.

“Right, no, I’m just a little shy myself.” Emory rubbed at his still-pink cheeks. It was adorable, really, to see him all flustered. I knew he was one hundred percent into his man. I’d shocked him, and I really had to watch that if I didn’t want everyone figuring out I was a cam boy because there was no telling how they’d take that.

To me, there was a big distinction between cam work and prostitution, but not everyone saw it that way.

I grabbed a sweater from the closet and tugged it on. “There, all covered up,” I said brightly. “And to answer your question, no, Holden and I are not fucking. We can’t touch each other, so I don’t think that’s on the table.”

“Right. Sorry for prying.”

I shrugged. “I’d do him in a hot minute.”

Emory snorted.

“No, I’m lying. I’d do him in a hot second.”

Emory laughed, eyes bright. “I think he really likes you. What Axel said, about you two on the computer?—”

“Oh yeah,” I said with a smile. “Holden’s got the sexiest voice ever, and he’s so bossy. I love it.”

“Okay, stop,” Emory said, straight-up giggling now. “I’ll never be able to look him in the eye again if you give me more details.”

“You’re so cute,” I said, reaching out to pinch his cheek.

He slapped my hand away, but he was still smiling.

“So you were saying something when you came in here and got an eyeful,” I prompted. “What’s up?”

“Oh! Well, Holden left for that Chamber event, and I was thinking you might like to get out of here and see the town a bit? You must be tired of being cooped up.” He glanced at my fresh outfit. “Unless you already have plans?”

I smiled hesitantly. I could hardly tell Emory that I was showering because I’d gotten hot and sweaty. In Holden’s bedroom. Alone.

My secret job wouldn’t stay very secret, then.

“Actually, Holden mentioned you might hang out with me while he was gone,” I said instead. “I figured I’d wash off the couch potato.”

Emory chuckled as intended. “Cool. I’ll take you downtown. We’ve got some cute little places. You’re not a health nut, are you?”

“Nah. I work out a lot, but I eat what I want.”

Emory opened the bedroom door and stepped into the hall. “Okay, perfect. You should hit the gym with Holden. He works out alot.Pretty sure that’s the only way he can deal with his pent-up…energy.”

I smirked as I followed him through the house. “Energy. Right. That’s what’s pent-up.”

Emory tilted his head. “He’s been calmer the past couple of months, though. How long have you two been…?”

“About that long,” I said vaguely, though I knew it was much longer. Holden had come into the chat as a silent lurker. When someone said something rude or disparaging, he shot it down. He was like my one-man protector right from the start.

He showed up every week for three weeks before he said anything to me. It took another two weeks before he requested a private session for the first time. Two weeks ofthose, and he asked, so tentatively, if we could talk for a while instead of doing sex every time.